Andy And My Heart... CD

Iranian/Armenian singer Andy Madadian is known as one of the most bootlegged artists in the world -- sold underground in countries like Iran, where the music is banned. He supposedly sells millions to the lovelorn in exotic places who enjoy his colorful mixture of trance-dance rhythms and hypnotic Middle Eastern and flamenco melodies -- and he sings in various languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, and Indian) to boot. So even if you don't know what he's singing about on "Yalla," you can still get excited about the throbbing flamenco energy. "Niloufareh Bahar" offers a unique blend of exotic atmospheres, a "la la" chorus, and a hip-hop groove, typifying his multicultural experience. "Pendulum Chie Begam" does the same thing, mixing chanting and Arabic flavors with synth atmospheres and techno grooves. He even offers a Middle Eastern twist on the very Western classic "Hotel California." The music here is certainly interesting, a mélange of just about everything -- yet his voice for all its charm just isn't all that powerful or commanding. He is, however, someone whose spirit is fun to watch -- you never know what country he'll dip himself into next. ~ Jonathan Widran

Principally recorded at Chateau Marouatte, France.

Middle Eastern Persian

Engineers: Jill Tengan, Martin Beal, Jeff Peters.

Personnel: Andy (keyboards); Haiko (vocals, keyboards, programming); David Lasley, Saman, Mahsa, Hasmik, Mehran, Firouzeh, Pyruz, Kamran Delan, Grisha, Tohid Azimi, Nima , Hamid Razazzan, Najma, Ragheb Alama, Shani Rigsbee (vocals); Takeshi Akimoto (guitar, acoustic guitar); Nicolas Fiszman (guitar); Andy Madadian (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Steve Stevens (acoustic guitar); John Bilezikjian (oud); George Hamed, Lili Haydn (violin); Arafat Petrosian (duduk); Niloufar Bahar, Armand Sabal-Lecco (bass guitar); Roger Biwandu (drums); Bata & African (djembe); Sa Sohrabi (shaker); Issam Houshan (tabla); René Castro (timbales); Wasim Hamid, Ali Tavalali, Haoua Abdel Nasser, Mustapha Ettamri (tombak, zarb).

Audio Mixers: Martin Beal; Elton Farokh Ahi; Jeff Peters; Scott Gordon.

Recording information: Chateau Marouatte, France; The Grand Lead Studio.

Arrangers: Andy; Andy Madadian; Tohid Azimi.

Personnel: Andy G (vocals, keyboards); Shani Rigsbee, Najima Akhtar (vocals); Andy Madadian (acoustic & electric guitars, bass); Takeshi Akimoto (acoustic & electric guitars); Steve Stevens (acoustic guitar); Nicholas Fiszman (electric guitar); Lil Haydn, George Hamed (violin); Wasim Hamed, John Bilezikjian (oud); Ararat Petrosian (duduk, shiva); Amir Badakhsh (tar); Haiko (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Armand Sabal-Leco (bass); Roger Biwandu (drums); Haoua Abdel Nasser (darbouka); Ali Tavallali (tonback, percussion); Issam Housham (tabla); Rene Castro (timbales); Sam Sohrabi (bata drum, djembe, shaker); Mustapha Ettamri (daff, riqq); Ragheb Alame, Hamid Razazzan, David Lasley (background vocals).

Producers: Andy Madadian, Sevak Petrosyan.